HOUGHTON, N.Y. – With a big rally in the top of the 10th inning, Hilbert College grabbed a late game win to split the non-conference baseball double-header against Alfred State College April 11.  The Hawks put together a string of three runs late to steal a 6-3 opening win before their bats were silenced in the second game as they fell 7-4 in games played at Houghton College.  

For the day, Paul Wujek went 4 for 9 with 2 RBI scoring two runs and Noah Rasnik went 3 for 4 with an RBI and also scored two runs.  Ryan Bonafede's 2RBI helped the Hawks grab the opening win on offense while Tyler Roth threw the final innings to secure his first win of the season.

Alfred State took an early 2-0 lead through two innings and then were held in place until the bottom of the 9th when they matched the Hawks efforts to keep play alive. 

Hilbert found the plate in the 6th and 7th to force extra innings and continued play in the top of the 9th with a single score.  But in the 10th, their bats got hot and Roth shut down the middle of A-State's line up with three consecutive strike-outs for the win.

Dalton Reynolds, serving as a pinch-runner for Sal Carroccia who doubled to left field in the top of the 6th, made it home on a passed ball for Hilbert's first run. Paul Wujek's double to left sent Tom Irish back home after Irish hit a 7th inning first-batter triple to right center for the Hawks tying run.

With bases loaded, in the bottom of the 7th, Tyler Wangler took the mound for Justin Hulbert who traveled 1.0 innings and closed the door on a late-inning win for A-State. 

Each team tacked a run on the 9th, with the Hawks putting pressure on the host first.  Wujek singled to center field and Anthony Wurstner reached on an infield error.  Ryan Bonadede made it to first via a fielder's choice and then stole second since it was open after Wurstner was out on the fielder's choice play. Joe Pernick grounded out to third, but that sac hit sent Wujek home for the one-run lead.  Bonafede was still pushing it out on the bags stole another bag before the final out.

Roth got the first two batters to return to their dug out by a combined strike-out and a fly out to right field in the bottom of the 9th.  But A-State's third batter hit a single, moved a bag on a passed ball, then sprinted home after the fourth batter tapped a single to left center for the 3-3 score.  Roth intentionally walked the fifth hitter so he could challenge the next guy.  The big guy won the battle with a strikeout and pushed the game one more inning.

Rasnik became the winning-run with his single to open the  10th. John Babocsi earned the RBI, but was then thrown out at second when Tom Irish reached on a fielder's choice. With bases loaded, filled with Irish, single-hitters, Wujek and Wurstner, Bonafede earned a 2RBI single and gave Hilbert a 3-run lead. Roth preserved the win with a 3-up, 3-down performance on the mound.

Matt Goraj went 5.2 innings and was credited with seven K's while giving up three hits and two runs before Hulbert, Wangler and Roth shared the final 4.1 innings.  Roth was on target, with eight strike-outs against the 12 batters he faced.

In the night cap, Alfred State built a 7-0 run before Hilbert found the scoreboard in the fifth when Kevin Moore hit a sac fly to center that sent Rasnik home. Hilbert connected for three more runs in the 6th but that was all they could muster.  Rasnik, Wujek and Mark Anderson were all credited with RBI's to end the day's scoring.  Colby Parachoniak, Matthew Lenz and Michael Vogel all shared time on the mound and combined for 5 strike-outs, three walks and nine hits.  Vogel closed the game without giving up a hit while getting three batters to swing and miss and five others to hit into outs.  

The Hawks continue their road play with an overnight stay in central PA as they battle Penn State Altoona April 12 in an AMCC double header.  Hilbert will then return to Hamburg Saturday night and regroup of their 'home game' against La Roche College which will be played in Erie, PA at the campus of Penn State Behrend.